By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Monday entered a “not guilty” plea for dismissed M/Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr., the central figure in the supposed mishandling of the PHP6.7 billion drug haul in Manila in October 2022.
This was after Mayo refused to be arraigned, citing the motion to quash that he filed.
Mayo was among the 29 policemen accused of staging a drug bust of over 900 kilograms of shabu in Tondo, Manila. He previously served as an intelligence officer for the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Drug Enforcement Group.
Other respondents in the case formally pleaded not guilty through their lawyers during Monday’s arraignment before the Manila RTC Branch 175.
The court set a pretrial hearing on Feb. 14.
The arraignment was done via videoconference.
Meanwhile, the court also took up the motions of some of the accused regarding their requests to be detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame.
One of the accused, Patrolman James Osalvo, has requested to be transferred to the PNP General Hospital following his medical condition arising from an accident.
Manila RTC Branch 175 has issued arrest warrants against the suspects with no bail recommended.
The policemen’s supposed violations include the planting of evidence and the delay and bungling in the prosecution of the drug cases.
A panel of prosecutors has filed charges against the policemen for violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PNA)
